38 / 56
38
Case Study - Comparing the role of assessment in
GFA incentives of Hong Kong and Singapore
• Minimum certification under the code for environmental sustainability of buildings is
mandatory for all buildings in Singapore. Registration for BEAM Plus is only necessary for
buildings applying for GFA concessions.
• There seems to be a fallacy around the overall cap – both Singapore and Hong Kong has a
10% overall cap that is applicable to all buildings under the GFA incentive schemes. (the 2%
additional GFA for platinum buildings in Singapore is an item that falls under the 10% overall
cap)
• The Singapore system is generally more stringent for it does not allow exemptions on
common place items such as guardhouses and A/C plant rooms.
• The Singapore system is more focused on items that directly add value to end-users or
developers – art-work, public connectivity, lighting, food and beverage areas, while many of
the stakeholders felt that the Hong Kong system seem to target “greenwash items” – wider
lift shafts, corridors and lobbies etc.
• The Singapore system recognises exemplary performance by awarding additional useable
GFA (e.g. office/commercial/dwelling spaces) – up to 1% for Gold
PLUS
, up to 2% for Platinum.
This additional GFA still falls under the overall 10% cap.
• The awarded GFA though limited by its respective cap, is calculated based on land value
– buildings in high land value districts will receive less GFA for the same performance at a
lower land value district since the per square meter benefits are higher.
• The Singapore system requires performance verification.
Hong Kong
Singapore
1 Application
Projects aiming for GFA
concessions
All buildings
2 Prerequisites
BEAM Plus registration
Certification code of
environmental sustainability
for buildings
3 Other requirements
SBD 152
N/A
4 Overall cap
10%
10%
5 Common place
exemptions
A/C plant rooms,
Guardhouse
N/A
6 Items apparent to
users
Wider lift lobbies, corridors,
lift shafts, clubhouse
Public areas, artwork, useable
GFA
7 Recognise Exemplary
Performance
No
Up to 2% of useable GFA for
Green Mark Incentive
8 Performance
Verification
No
Yes
9 Land-value based
N/A
Yes for Green Mark Incentive